A Holistic Approach to Your Ergonomic Assessment
If you work on a computer for a living you’ve probably had an ergonomic assessment, know a co-worker who has had one, or been provided with a DIY ergonomic checklist. Ergonomics, or the science of fitting the workspace to the body rather than the body to the workspace, is becoming an essential part of many work environments. A good ergonomist can tailor an office desk, a laboratory workstation or warehouse environment to better suit almost any body-type. Traditionally, improving a work setting is a matter of recommending the right equipment, reviewing the right habits, or some combination of both. Recently, however, there is an interesting move to incorporate the broader topic of wellness and fitness into the ergonomic assessment. When I work with clients onsite, the wellness and fitness component of an ergonomic assessment is essential and here’s why:
A fit body and mind can better tolerate the strain of long hours at a workstation. Stress management techniques, such as mindfulness and breathing exercises, can be a game changer when under pressure.
Often times there is a fundamental weakness in the body that may prevent basic ergonomic recommendations from being successful. For example, I have worked with people with a forward head posture causing their upper back to round forward. As a result, an ergonomic chair is never comfortable even when it technically fits. Until the overall postural issues have been resolved with stretching and strengthening exercises the client will continue to feel uncomfortable.
When a client has difficulty focusing and maintaining energy, changes in the physical workstation may or may not be helpful. A holistic approach means having a broader conversation about fueling and maintaining energy systems by addressing topics such as food, caffeine, hydration, and sleep, to name a few.
A client’s back pain may not be directly related to the workstation; it may be a result of activities outside of work, for example lifting weights with poor form at the gym may often have negative consequences on the back, hips and neck that are felt when at work. More than a few times, in addition to the standard ergonomic coaching (elbow angle and monitor height, etc.), I also coached the client on proper squat and deadlift technique and when I followed up with the client a few weeks later I heard, not only about the workplace improvements, but improvements in the gym as well.
Most ergonomists that I work with who have a background in physical or occupational therapy, personal or athletic training have an appropriate educational background to address the clients’ needs in a holistic, rather than conventional, way. As ergonomics becomes a common tool for employers to support their workforce, an ergonomic assessment is a valuable opportunity to holistically examine the clients’ needs, work habits, fitness and health goals.
Author: Virginia Eaton